We have seen some spectacular efforts from pupils this year. From soul concerts to strawberry selling, bake offs to beer runs; these schools have made us smile, laugh and sometimes even well up with their courage, creativity and spirit.

In order to give them the recognition they deserve, we decided to hold the Solar Schools awards. Solar Schools’ from across the UK nominated their very best students for these project wide awards, and the results are in!

*Drum roll please*... and the winners are…

Solar Schools Superstar of the year

First place: Danielle, University of Chester Academy Northwich

Danielle has taken a strong leadership role in the Fundraising Ambassadors team at UCAN. She supports the other students with their speeches, coaches them on presenting and leads by example with her calm, confident, well researched and eloquent presentations to students and staff.

Runner up: Joshua, Holy Trinity primary school

Filling the environmental brief, Joshua did a sponsored litter pick around town during the holidays. It was his idea and, apart from adult supervision, did it all by himself.

Solar Schools team of the year

First place:James and Xander, Ludwell primary school

James and Xander delivered an amazing presentation to the local Parish Council in an effort to persuade the councillors to approve a grant of £6,000 for the solar panels project from the Community Fund. They wrote the presentation themselves, spoke with confidence and clarity, and answered some very searching and difficult questions from councillors.

Xander and James with their proud parents

The boys were frankly awesome, and their performance tipped the balance and resulted in the council approving the whole grant!! Their efforts even made the local press, raising the profile of the school in the community.

— Richard Ecclestone, Ludwell primary school

Runner up: UCAN Art team, University of Chester Academy Northwich

This group of super talented year ten students always throw themselves into each event and competition with gusto. They are going to take a big step soon by having a stall at the local teenage market to showcase and sell their recycled artwork.

Solar Schools pupils of the year

Winners: Holy Trinity primary school pupils

They've baked and danced and run and eaten and sewn and picked up and practised maths and donated precious pocket money, tooth fairy money and loose change. Not to mention all the encouragement of parents and friends to donate individually and as businesses. They did it, altogether. Their enthusiasm and commitment raised £10,010 in 14 weeks. They all deserve it.

We had a wonderful time visiting the schools to present their awards, and from the smiles on their faces it seemed they were pretty chuffed too!